Legal Issues

In an interesting development, SiriusXM has sued “John Doe” in an effort to protect consumers from what appears to be a fraudulent scheme by a party that uses a similar phone number to that of SiriusXM’s customer service department to get consumer information, and take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

SiriusXM’s customer service line is 888-539-7474

The John Doe number is 800-539-7474

SiriusXM alleges that consumers that dial the John Doe number are being asked for personal information, being promised gift cards, and other services. Consumers mistakenly think that it is SiriusXM doing these spamming techniques, and the hard sell of the call leaves a bad taste in the mouths of consumers and degrades the reputation of SiriusXM.

Indeed, I called the number myself and was promised a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. I asked, “Is this SiriusXM?” I was told that I was selected for the “rewards department” and that once finished there I would be “transferred back over”

The essence of the suit is that John Doe is using a mis-dialed number to give the consumer the impression that they are speaking to SiriusXM when in fact they are not. SiriusXM is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.

Wanna have some fun? Give this “John Doe” company a call and pull their chain a bit. See if they admit that they are not SiriusXM’s customer service.

While SiriusXM has had its challenges as it relates to customer service, this experience is an unfair practice by an unnamed party that hurts both SiriusXM and consumers!

As many readers know, SiriusXM has faced some legal setbacks recently with regard to pre-1972 music recordings. The Turtles, authors of “Happy Together”, have sued the satellite radio provider in several states over royalties. The current laws for royalties cover songs after 1972, leaving a loop hole of sorts in what happens with pre-1972 recordings…. → Read More

File this in the category of “headache gone”. SiriusXM has agreed to settle an action by several Attorney General’s to refund about $3.8 million dollars to consumers who’s service was automatically renewed but undesired. As part of the settlement, Sirius XM has also agreed to make several changes to its business, including improving its cancellation process and… → Read More

Fresh off of a legal victory in a lawsuit against SiriusXM, the Turtles are setting their sights on Pandora with the exact same claim. Meanwhile SiriusXM has vowed to appeal the lawsuit. SiriusXM’s CFO David Frear stated at an investor conference that the company would appeal, but the argument is not that artists should not… → Read More

A Federal judge has ruled in favor of the Turtles in a lawsuit about royalties that may mean that the Turtles and Sirius XM are not “Happy Together”. In addition, the ruling may pave the way for royalty payments to many other artists who’s songs predate 1972. The copyright laws in the United States deal… → Read More

SiriusXM received a bit of positive news recently when a Judge hearing the lawsuit vs. SoundExchange ruled that the royalty matter relating to pre-1972 music should be determined by the CRB royalty board instead of in Federal Court. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon , in his ruling this past Tuesday stated that the issue… → Read More

SiriusXM has had its share of spats with consumer advocate groups regarding marketing practices over the years. There have also been a handful of lawsuits centered around people receiving unwanted communications from the satellite radio provider, and suits complaing that SiriusXM is obtaining personal information about car buyers. This latest lawsuit takes the cake though… → Read More

SiriusXM has wasted very little time in firing back on a potential class action lawsuit involving a former intern for the Howard Stern Show. The suit alleges that SiriusXM failed to pay a non-paid intern and according to the plaintiff, Melissa Tierney was born from an alleged injury suffered when getting Stern his fruit salad…. → Read More

It certainly did not take long for Sound Exchange to jump onto the lawsuit bandwagon on the heels of the Turtles lawsuit. The latest suit centers around royalties for pre-February 1972 music played by the satellite radio provider. Sound Exchange has no real authority to collect royalties from pre-1972, but their complaint actually centers… → Read More

The Turtles are hoping that a lawsuit against SiriusXM could pave the way to new royalty protections. The band is a lead plaintiff in a $100 million lawsuit against satellite radio provider SiriusXM. It has been alleged that the company has infringed on millions of old recordings from hundreds if not thousands of artists who’s… → Read More

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